Anthem of the Seas

Friday, August 8 was a big day for our family as we prepared to depart for Alaska on a Royal Carribean cruise out of Seattle. Karen and I have decided to take some of our Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) funds out each year and do a cruise with each of our kids families. Since Elisa and Aaron Edgington have the oldest of our grandkids, we decided to take that family first before the kids end up leaving the nest. Since they live in Portland, Oregon, the Seattle departure location was ideal for them to get to with minimal expense.

The family drove up the day before from Portland and we drove down from Camano Island on Friday morning. We all met up at the cruise ship terminal and went through the boarding process together. None of the Edgington's had ever done a cruise, so this was a new experience. There was anticipation, excitement and anxiety all rolled up into one for them. Since we have had some cruising experience, we were there to help them walk through the process. Once we were on the ship everything fell into place and life onboard really started to shape up. Elisa and Aaron had a starboard balcony cabin next to their three daughters' balcony cabin. Karen and I had a balcony cabin on the port side of the ship across from their location. We were all located on deck (lucky number) 13 just one deck below the Windjammer buffet restaurant, pools and the best feature in my opinion, the adult only solarium.

Our ship was the Anthem of the Seas which is a Quantum Class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean. It's known for its innovative features and family-friendly experiences, including a North Star observation capsule, a skydiving simulator, and bumper cars. The ship offers a variety of dining options, entertainment venues, and activities. The ship is 1,138 feet long and 136 feet wide, according to Royal Caribbean. It has 16 passenger decks and can accommodate over 4,900 passengers. Our 7-night Alaska cruise itinerary, departing from Seattle, included Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, and Victoria, British Columbia.

The view from our cabin balcony as we departed the Seattle cruise ship terminal on Friday evening.

We loved our cabin layout which included a small sofa, desk area and plenty of closet space. Above the queen bed was additional storage space. The balcony was deeper than some of our previous cruise ship balconies with two comfortable chairs and a small table.

Our first port of call was Sitka, Alaska after a day at sea. Sitka is an Alaskan city and borough near Juneau, the state capital. It's spread over Baranof Island, part of Chichagof Island and others. It was part of Russia until 1867 and St. Michael’s Orthodox Cathedral is topped with an onion dome. The 1842 Russian Bishop’s House is nearby. Sitka National Historical Park is the site of Russia’s defeat of the indigenous Tlingit people and has a trail dotted with totem poles.

It was then on to Skagway, a historic city in Southeast Alaska, known for its Klondike Gold Rush past, preserved downtown with wooden boardwalks and historic buildings, and it's a popular stop for Alaskan cruises. Key attractions include the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad with its vintage trains and mountain views, and the possibility of outdoor activities like hiking. The town's population of about 1,200 residents swells significantly with cruise ship passengers during the summer season.

Our next stop was to be the Dawes Glacier, a massive tidewater glacier at the end of the Endicott Arm Fjord in southeastern Alaska, a popular cruise destination known for its towering size, stunning blue ice, and dramatic ice calving. This area, part of the Tracy Arm–Fjords Terror Wilderness, offers spectacular views of the glacier's face, numerous icebergs, and potential wildlife sightings, including harbor seals.

Unfortunately, the Dawes Glacier and Endicott Arm itinerary was cancelled in August for safety reasons, due to a post-landslide tsunami, debris, and poor weather conditions. These cancellations are due to increased navigational challenges and safety concerns, often causing cruise lines to reroute their ships to different ports or attractions. So, per the cruise ship's policy we headed for Juneau, Alsaka to arrive earlier then anticipated.

Juneau, Alaska is known for its incredible natural beauty, including Mendenhall Glacier and surrounding wilderness, and is famous as the only state capital unreachable by road. The city's history is rooted in the late 19th-century gold rush, a legacy evident in its museums and gold mine tours. Visitors can enjoy whale watching, glacier viewing, hiking, and exploring the unique blend of Native heritage and frontier lore within the state capital.

Juneau is unique among U.S. state capitals in that there are no roads connecting the city to the rest of the state or to the contiguous United States. Honolulu, Hawaii, is the only other state capital which is not connected by road to the contiguous United States. The absence of a road network is due to the extremely rugged terrain surrounding the city. In turn, Juneau is a de facto island city in terms of transportation; all goods coming in and out must be transported by plane or boat despite the city's location on the Alaskan mainland.

Three other cruise ships were in Juneau on the day we arrived.

Downtown Juneau sits at sea level with tides averaging 16 feet (5 m) and below steep mountains about 3,500 to 4,000 feet (1,100 to 1,200 m) high. Atop the mountains is the Juneau Icefield, a large ice mass from which about 30 glaciers flow; two of them, the Mendenhall Glacier and the Lemon Creek Glacier, are visible from the local road system. The Mendenhall Glacier has been gradually retreating; its front face is declining in width and height.

When not in port there is plenty to occupy one's time and temperament. For those seeking adventure you could wake board or belly board. Maybe skydiving or rock climbing is your thing? They have that too. For those seeking relaxation they have a spa facility with all the amenities or you can spend time in the solarium area with or without getting wet. The girls in our group loved the dance scene and could be found wherever the music was danceable.

The dining experience in our main dining room was first class every night. Stevan, our waiter and Ikade, our assistant waiter took impeccable care of our every appetency. We concluded our last night before dining to gather for some photos of our group.

Alas, the journey ended Friday morning, August 15 back in Seattle. The Edgington family experienced their first cruise and stated it was beyond their expectations. For us, it was mission accomplished. What a joy to see their enjoyment and hear their comments during the week we were together!

Karen and I are looking forward to the next family trip with our son Nick and granddaughter's Morgan and Grace next Spring during the kid's school break. We will board another Royal Caribbean cruise for a week out of Galveston to Roatan, Costa Maya and Cozumel on the Allure of the Seas. This is one of the Oasis class ships, the largest passenger vessels in service until 2024, when the Icon-class ship, Icon of the Seas, surpassed them to become the world’s largest cruise ship.